drillmastertommy

Not an off the shelf product here in the UK so one credit card and a phone call to Steve at VPW later and new rings and head gasket are on route...

I have a 1953 P24 code 218 in my 39 Plymouth pick up, trouble is it smokes something terrible! In the not too distant future I have designs on acquiring a good condition Dodge 230 lump which I can transplant my twin carbs, Edgy head and cast headers onto but right now it's financially not an option. In order to avoid gassing my local community I need to establish whether it's worth me replacing my piston rings. I know in an ideal world the engine would be pulled and properly rebuilt but that just can't happen right now. My engine starts well, seems to produce a good amount of torque and will run smoothly. BUT under throttle local visibility is reduced to zero, my dipstick is always pushed up a little after running and my oil vent cap looks like a pub local before the smoking ban. All bores are unscored and there is only a very light lip at the top. There are no markings on the piston tops so I'm assuming they are standard bore. I suppose I'm looking for some experienced opinions on whether I'm wasting my time removing the cylinder head and sump, removing pistons and con rods one at a time, using a ridge reamer to clean up the lip at the top of the bore, lighly honing the cylinder walls then replacing all the parts as they were just with new rings on the standard pistons (assuming I don't find any damage not currently visible). Could this course of action keep me a little less smokey for a few more miles.....? Thanks in advance.

Fitted their ignitor unit in my distributor, replacing points, condensor etc earlier this year on my 218 flattie, that and a flamethrower coil from them and I never have any trouble starting/running! Have done our stovebolt since aswell. Do it! Good kit for relatively little outlay.

1 or 2 1/8" holes in the thermostat works a treat. Did it with our 235 stovebolt, my 59ab flathead and my 218 Plymouth 6. Avoids the possible air pocket without the issues of not running a thermostat and from the research I did before doing mine it seems to be recommended.

I saw this tech article a few years ago and gave it a go, so long as you have the air as it suggests it works great. I'm sure the soda quality makes a difference though. First try was from a small box and all was well, after that I bought a 25kg bag and it was full of small lumps that kept blocking the nozzle. Gives your carbs a lovely clean finish inside and out, I must have done 10 carbs this way now.

I've been enjoying reading all your updates regards your intake and headers, it's all looking pretty good I must say. I just read you are looking to get some 30" smithys, has that size been recommended or was it a decision based on the sound you want? I'm lucky enough to have an Edgy dual intake, Edgy head and Langdons cast headers on my old 218 flattie and I opted for 2x 22" smithys on a 2" stainless system. The sound they give is great, deep, mellow but not too loud, you know it's about when you throttle it but it's not antisocial. I'm assuming the longer the mufflers, the quieter it'll be?

Beautiful! Wish I had the time/money/ability to get mine lookin that good!!

Saw this a couple of hours ago on another site, it's brilliant!

And I thought they'd just started running well of their own accord! Security footage suggests otherwise.

I struggle to believe anybody seriously interested in buying this car would walk away because it has a selection of hugely desirable parts on the engine????? Half a brain can work out that even if you don't want those parts you can change them out for original stuff, sell em and pocket some change! Over the small amount of classic cars I've sold, I've been stunned at the amount of people who just wanted to waste my time. If you have the original stuff then mention it in your ad but like I said, serious buyers wouldn't be put off.

Hey Duds, northamericanmotorco.com 01252 515750 in Hampshire. Like I said, Billy will know the easiest way round this before having to change out the bellhousing.

Dudfords, Lucas sold yesterday I'm afraid! I'd suggest talking to Billy at North American Motor Co in Farnborough and see if he can point you toward a smaller starter, he really knows his stuff and if anyone over here can help it will be him. Also might be worth searching out 'colind' on the RodsnSods forum and sending him a message re the replacement bell housing, he is the guy I bought both my spare starters from. He has pulled the flattie from his Dodge truck and put in a Transit diesel. Worth a shot?

Somebody must have needed to change their pants after that one!

Hey Andy, the world appears to get smaller every day! I have my atomic robots on display at an art open house in Hove all this month, was there all day today... Suppose I ought to bring it back on topic though... Any progress with the starter Duds?

Hey Dudfords, do you want to send over some dimensions of the starter you have that doesn't fit and I'll compare them to the couple I have on the bench. Earl 'EDGY' Edgertons stuff is lovely, I have his parts on my 218, head, intake valve covers, even if it didn't make a performance difference I'd still have it, it looks awesome!

I think it looks great and I even like the red wheels!

Is it that the body of the starter is too wide or is the starter long enough to be fouling on any oil filter fittings on the block? If you want to come over Chichester way next week and do a comparison your more than welcome.

Brooklands sounds cool, have wanted to check it out for ages. Frustratingly I won't be able to be out long enough to make it there and back on the 13th. Keep me informed with the tour route though.

That gearbox doesn't look any smaller than mine which is also attached to a 218, your average 3 speed crash box doesn't need to be huge. I'll put up a pic for you to compare later. Sounds like you have managed to sort your starter motor which is good, if you do have any issues I now have one spare on the bench. Tom.

I used to go to an underground climbing wall at Fort Purbrook and the Solent renegades have their annual car show at Fort Nelson, cool old buildings! Heathrow is 1 1/4 hours from Chichester on a sensible day and it would be good to meet Robin, I've seen his car a bunch of times but never him! If you can get to Chichester we could get breakfast at Goodwood historic motor circuit? Also the Victory wheelers are having their annual reunion meet at Hayling island on the 13th, might not be many there before you have to be airport bound mind.

I'm a fair bit off your route but let me know if you detour anywhere near Chichester and I'll meet you guy's for a brew!

This was something that caused me a real issue recently after all my leads had been removed. I eventually found that my distributor had not been indexed correctly so number 1 lead was around the 5 o'clock position as opposed to the 11 o'clock position on the cap that it should of been. I found a tip on here, put your thumb over the empty plug hole on number 1 cylinder, rotate the engine until the compression pops your thumb off, then take off your dizzy cap and see where the rotor arm is pointing. Rotor arm should be pointing pretty close to number 1 lead position.

Using the current tourist exchange rate I am paying the equivelant of $9.85 per gallon right now..... I dont tend to 'nip' to the shops in the Plymouth.

Congrats to the newly weds, I would of loved a car that cool at my wedding!